Day 2, 19th April 2015.
We started early morning from Siliguri towards Bhutan, as we have already explored most of the part of Sikkim; the next place to travel was Bhutan with an economical budget. We planned the trip within a month and hence forth were all set ready to rejoice the beauty of Bhutan. As it was Sunday the immigration office would not function for very late hours of the day, It was necessary for us to complete all formalities of permission for both persons and vehicle to ensure that we can move ahead and reach Thimpu on the same day.
Early morning on the road from Siliguri to Jaigaon.
The road from Siliguri to Jaigaon was awesome as there were tea gardens on either sides and could also see hills and rivers flowing. We were well in time to be the 2nd one to get the permission done. It took only half an hour to get it done. In Bhutan the key to get things done is just a sweet smile. Wear that and you will be through every odd. From the immigration office we moved to RSTA office to clear the next set of permission for our vehicle.
Got the permission for Thimpu and Paro
Vehicle permission.
By 12:00 PM we were done with all formalities and moved to Thimpu. On the way we stopped in a lonely place to have a small picnic with some homemade food and admiring the valleys around.
Crossed the border ..
Having small picnic with home made food.
Thimpu is encroached by hills and situated at the base of these hills. As we were moving ahead we could not see the city as it was enveloped by the hills which stood as solders to the city. I drove uphill and the roads were covered with clouds which greeted us as enter the city. The clouds hindered visibility but even though it was a nice feeling to penetrate through it. As enter the capital my parents were rejoiced to admire the special art of building houses. Each house was so beautiful to look at; the architectural excellence was worth praise. The windows and roof top were crafted in block structures with mantras printed in vibrant colors.
Entering Thimpu.......
Entering Thimpu...
Yes .. We reached The Capital of Bhutan
Wider view of the city
Thimpu is a nice place to visit in winter as you can experience snowfall here. We reached Thimpu by 4:30 PM. Bhutan has thin population and so it is easy to find a place to park your car even in the main market place by paying a parking fees Rs. 10-15 / hour. In the evening we walked down the lanes of the market and were delighted to glance at super bikes aligned near the football stadium. If you see people moving around in Land Cruisers, Hilux or Santa Fe, don’t be surprised as Bhutan imports numerous such cars.
People out here are good at cooking pork and beef items and hence you can try out some of the local cuisines made out of it. After having supper, we enjoyed some family time sitting near the clock tower at the center of the market.
View when we were sitting near the clock tower
View when we were sitting near the clock tower
